Apparatus and method for making seed tape and the resulting seed tape

ABSTRACT

A single strip passes while under tension and with a portion moistened through a generally V-shaped mandrel channel with a rounded lower end, and seeds are dropped into place on the tape. Then the tape is guided along a gradually deepened channel with widened lower portion and through a pair of generally circular eyes, each having a step. These eyes form the tape into an overlapped circular shape. A pair of rollers then flatten the tape and seal it closed, while retaining the overlap.

United States Patent Cochran et al. 1 Aug. 15, 1972 1 APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR References C ed i fgdgfigigg fiw THE UNITED STATES PATENTS3,561,187 2/1971 Rohnert et al ..53/28 [72] Inventors: Troy Lee Cochran;M lvin Do gl 1,160,278 11/1915 Gray et a1. ..53/180 Kirkpatrick, both ofSalinas, Calif. Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon [73] Assignee. UnionCarbide Corporation, New Assistant Examiner Eugne R Desmond YorkAttorney-Owen, Wickersham & Erickson [22] Filed: Nov. 10, 1969 ABSTRACT[21] Appl. No: 875,301

A single strip passes while under tension and with a g 7 portionmoistened through a generally V-shaped man- [52] US. Cl. ..53/28, 47/50,53/180 dy channel with a rounded lower end, and seeds are [51] lnt.Cl...B65b 9/06 dropped into place on the tape. Then the tape iS [58] Fieldof Search ..53/28, 180; 47/50, 53-177 guided along a gradually deepenedchannel with widened lower portion and through a pair of generallycircular eyes, each having a step. These eyes form the tape into anoverlapped circular shape. A pair of to]- lers then flatten the tape andseal it closed, while retaining the overlap.

PATENTEDAus 15 I972 3, 3, 5 3

SHEET 2 or 3 FIG. 4

INVENTORS TROY L. COCHRAN L IELVIN D. KIRKPATRICK ATTORNEYS PATENTED3,683,583 saw 3 UF 3 TROY L. coww LVIELVIN D. KIRKPATRICK 0W, MM

ATTORNEYS APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAKING SEED TAPE AND THE RESULTINGSEED TAPE This invention relates to apparatus and method for making seedtape and to the resulting product. I

Seed tape has recently been manufactured successfully frompolyoxyethylene, and successful machines have been described inearlier-filed patent applications. However, a special problem ariseswith some relatively large seeds, for then it is not satisfactory merelyto place the seeds individually in a vee-shaped configuration of tapeand simply to close the moistened side edges of the tape together. Largeseeds exert so much pressure that they tend to break open the seam andto fall out.

The present invention overcomes this problem by providing a seed tapeclosed by and sealed with an overlap so that the seed is not merely heldtogether by the welding together of the side edges of the tape, but alsoby the overlap; thus, even though the seam itself may not be perfectlysealed, it is difficult for the seeds to fall out. Also, it becomeseasier to make a better seam. The product is thus superior to other seedtapes, especially when large seeds are used. The invention provides notonly a superior product, but method and apparatus for making it.

It is important for seed tape to be manufactured quite rapidly in orderto be economical,.and the present invention enables rapid manufacture ofseed tape having an overlapping seam.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thepreferred embodiment described in detail below. i

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a seed: tape embodying theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in sidev elevation of a portion of a seedtape manufacturing machine embodying the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view taken in section along the line 55 in FIG. 4,looking at one end of the mandrel with its V-shaped groove.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in section taken along the line 6-6 in FIG.4, looking at the otherend of themandrel.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view inside elevation and in section of themandrel, along the line 77 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view in section taken along the line 8-8 in FIG.4.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view in section taken along the line 99 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged top plan view of the. tape during manufactureaccording to this invention showing how the tape is overlapped and itsprogress in closing and flattening.

A continuous strip 10 of polyoxyethylene tape or other suitable material(from a suitable supply, as a reel of spool) enters'from the left ofFIGS. 3 and 4 as a flat tape passing under a flat cylindrical pin 11,over a flat cylindrical pin 12, and, in between the pins 11 and 12,beneath a moisture applicator 13, which sprays a desired pattern ofmoisture, along the edges only or along one edge or over one entireface. The moistened tape 10 then passes over the pin 12 and under a pinl4,

which guides it on to a mandrel member 15. The mandrel member 15 ispreferably provided with a generally v shaped slot 16 having a roundedbottom portion 17, shown greatly enlarged in FIG. 5. The tape 10 isconstrained to follow this shape by virtue of the tension exerted on itby its guide pins and drive rollers. While the tape 10 is on the mandrel15, it passes a seed depositing station 18. A seed placement machine 19like that shown in US. Patent application Ser. No. 721,542 filed, nowUS. Pat. No. 3,561,187, Mar. 20, 1968, may beused, or one like that.shown in US. Patent application Ser. No. 710,014, now US. Pat. No.3,511,016, filed Mar. 4, 1968, may instead be used.

In any event, seeds 20 are deposited one group at a time,-sometimesinpluralities but usually one seed at a time, on the tape 10 while thetape 10 is approximately over the longitudinalcenter of the mandrel 15.Heretofore, the next step would have been to force the two side edges 2land 22 of the tape 10 together to provide a seam,but in the presentinvention an overlap 23 is achieved by sending the tape 10 with its seed20 through a first eye 25, which is generally circular, but is providedwith a short step 26 near its uppermost portion. As a result, one side.edge 22 is held along a larger radius than the other edge 21, as shownin FIG. 8, so

that the edge 21 of the tape 10 is forced under the edge 22 to provide ashort overlap 23. This eye 25 is carefullyaligned relatively to theV-shaped groove 16 of the mandrel l5 and is located directly at its end.

Next, the tape 10 passes through a second eye 27 which is shapedsubstantially like the first eye 25, but is somewhat smaller in:diameter; again there is a step 28, and this eye 27 increases the amountof the overlap 23. From here, the roundedand overlapped tape 10 passes,in as short a distance as possible, between two rollers 30' and 31 whichare positioned on horizontal axes 32 and 33 to engage the tape 10 ata-meeting' point 34 and to flatten it, thereby forcing the moistenedportions of the tape 10 to engage other portions of the tape and to sealalong the overlap 23. The second eye 27 and the short distance betweenit and the rollers 30 and 31 counteract the tendency of the tape 10 toloosen and resume its original shape, and the tape 10 is able onlytoloosen to about the extent of the dimensions of overlap set in the firsteye 25. The flattening by the rollers 30 and 31 retains the amount ofoverlap set by the'eye 25,. as shown in FIG. 8. From the point 34, thetape passes between a pair of final closing rollers 35 and 36 whichexert somewhat more pressure. These rollers 35 and 36 are'preferablymounted on vertical axes 37 and 38 and the tape is preferably turnedbetween the two sets of rollers.

The rollers 30, 31, 35 and 36 are preferably made with an indentation 40lying between two shoulders 41 and 42. Within the indentation 40, isprovided a soft rubber backing member 43 and on top of the shoulders 41and 42 is an elastomeric ring 44, preferably of rubberband stock, toprovide a soft seat for closing against the seeds 20 without damagingthem.

' An important feature of the invention, not mentioned heretofore, isthat the bottom 17 of the groove or slot 16 is not precisely horizontalacross the full length of the mandrel 15. Instead, it is horizontal forits first half and then, from about its midpoint at the seedepositingstation 18 it gradually drops, along an inclined path 50, which divergesat a relatively flat angle from the horizontal, shown by a broken line51 in FIG. 7. At the same time, as may be seen by comparing FIG. 6 withFIG. 5, the bottom portion 52 only of the slot 16 is widened androunded. We have found that this inclination and rounding of the bottomportion 52 both enables better and smoother introduction to the firsteye 25 (so that the tape hugs the walls of the eye 25 rather thanbridging across chords and introducing defects in the final tape) andprevents carry-back of the encirclement by the tape to theseed-depositing station 18 where it would cause trouble. The eyes 25 and27 are mounted for ready adjustment relative to the mandrel 15, toaccommodate differences in tape thickness and so on.

To summarize, the flat tape 10 is first formed into a V-shape, the seed20 is deposited, the tape 10 is then formed into a circle with anoverlap 23, and then the circle is flattened out with the seed 20remaining in the center of the flattened-out portion and the overlap 23thereby retained; then the tape is forced with somewhat more pressure tofull closure at the seams along the overlap 23.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, manychanges in construction and widely differing embodiments andapplications of the invention will suggest themselves without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and thedescription herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be inany sense limiting.

We claim:

1. A method for making seed tape for relatively large seeds so as toprevent undesired opening of the seam by the action of the seed on thetape, comprising the steps of:

making one surface only of the tape tacky,

forming a flat tape into a V-shape with straight upstanding sides andthe tacky surface directed inwardly,

dropping the seeds into the V at spaced intervals,

guiding one side edge of the tape and directing the other side edgethereunder to form a substantially circular shape enclosing the seedswith a substantial overlap of one side edge by the other side edge,while contacting only the non-tacky surface during said forming,guiding, and overlapping, and

then flattening the circle to provide two flattened faces with theoverlap in the middle of one face sealing the tape closed and the seedsubstantially against the middle of the other face, thereby bringing theoverlapped portion down against the seed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of making the one surfacetacky is done by moistening portions of one face of said tape, said tapebeing of a material made tacky by discreet moistening, and saidflattening step includes closure of the moistened portion of the tapeagainst another portion of the tape, so as to seal the tape closed atthe overlapped portions.

3, The method of claim 1 wherein the tape, after being brought to itscircular shape is brought into a smaller circle with more overlap, sothat the tendency of the tape to depart from the circular shape beforeit can be flattened is restrained sufficiently to retain substantiallythe original degree of overlap provided when the tape is first broughtinto its circular shape,

4. method for making seed tape for re atively large seeds frompolyoxyethylene strip, so as to prevent undesired opening of the seam bythe spreading action of the seed on the tape, comprising the steps of:

moistening a portion of said strip while it is flat, forming the flatstrip into a generally V-shape, with a rounded vertex, dropping theseeds into the vertex at spaced intervals, further deepening androunding the vertex, bringing the side edges of the strip directly fromthe V-shape around to provide a generally circular shape with an overlapof one side edge over the other side edge, increasing the overlap whiledecreasing the diameter of the circle so that relaxation before the nextstep results in restoring substantially the dimensions of the bringingstep, then flattening the circle to provide two flattened faces with theoverlap in the middle of one face and the seed substantially against themiddle of the other face, thereby bringing the overlapped portion downagainst the seed, while sealing the moistened portion against anotherportion of the tape at the overlap.

1. A method for making seed tape for relatively large seeds so as toprevent undesired opening of the seam by the action of the seed on thetape, comprising the steps of: making one surface only of the tapetacky, forming a flat tape into a V-shape with straight upstanding sidesand the tacky surface directed inwardly, dropping the seeds into the Vat spaced intervals, guiding one side edge of the tape and directing theother side edge thereunder to form a substantially circular shapeenclosing the seeds with a substantial overlap of one side edge by theother side edge, while contacting only the non-tacky surface during saidforming, guiding, and overlapping, and then flattening the circle toprovide two flattened faces with the overlap in the middle of one facesealing the tape closed and the seed substantially against the middle ofthe other face, thereby bringing the overlapped portion down against theseed.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of making the onesurface tacky is done by moistening portions of one face of said tape,said tape being of a material made tacky by discreet moistening, andsaid flattening step includes closure of the moistened portion of thetape against another portion of the tape, so as to seal the tape closedat the overlapped portions.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the tape,after being brought to its circular shape is brought into a smallercircle with more overlap, so that the tendency of the tape to departfrom the circular shape before it can be flattened is restrainedsufficiently to retain substantially the original degree of overlapprovided when the tape is first brought into its circular shape.
 4. Amethod for making seed tape for relatively large seeds frompolyoxyethylene strip, so as to prevent undesired opening of the seam bythe spreading action of the seed on the tape, comprising the steps of:moistening a portion of said strip while it is flat, forming the flatstrip into a generally V-shape, with a rounded vertex, dropping theseeds into the vertex at spaced intervals, further deepening androunding the vertex, bringing the side edges of the strip directly fromthe V-shape around to provide a generally circular shape with an overlapof one side edge over the other side edge, increasing the overlap whiledecreasing the diameter of the circle so that relaxation before the nextstep results in restoring substantially the dimensions of the bringingstep, then flattening the circle to provide two flattened faces with theoverlap in the middle of one face and the seed substantially against themiddle of the other face, thereby bringing the overlapped portion downagainst the seed, while sealing thE moistened portion against anotherportion of the tape at the overlap.